The Operator Receives No Power
Sometimes, a garage door wont open or close for one reason only the garage door operator has no power connection. In the funniest of scenarios, the problem will simply be due to an unplugged power cord. You might have absentmindedly unplugged the operator as you were exiting the garage through your internal door to the house. People sometimes do such things and forget having done so.
Often, a more serious issue will prevent an operator from receiving power, such as a blown fuse or circuit breaker. Problems with the circuit breaker should only be handled by a professional.
To summarize, if youre having trouble with your garage operator, its probably either unplugged or it may have blown a fuse. You can plug the cord back in or have a professional service reset your fuses.
The issue could even be due to a faulty outlet. If you plug an electric tool or lamp into the socket, and that also fails to power, the outlet is likely the culprit in which case the operator just needs to be plugged in elsewhere until the faulty outlet is repaired.
The Opener Has A Motor Circuit Or Mechanical Failure
If the above troubleshooting recommendations didnt solve your issue, the solution might be more complicated and expensive. Your garage door opener may have a motor circuit or mechanical failure. Both these issues will stop your garage door opener from opening and closing. Since they involve tinkering with your garage doors inner workings, your best bet might be to call a professional.
If something is wrong with your openers motor circuit, you may be able to get a replacement, especially if your opener is still relatively new and has a warranty protecting it from malfunctions. The problem could either be a factory error or an unfortunate natural cause, such as a lightning strike. Call your garage door openers manufacturer to ask about their replacement policy.
Your garage door gets a lot of use. Consider if you open and close your garage door twice per day once when you leave in the morning and once when you come home. Assuming you work five days per week, that adds up to more than 500 times per year. If multiple people live in your household, chances are you use your garage door even more often. That puts a lot of wear and tear on your opener, so its normal for it to suffer a mechanical failure.
Call a professional and see if they can repair your garage door opener. If you have an old opener, your best option may be to get a new one.
Safety Sensor Wire Could Be Damaged
It is very common for safety sensor wiring to get damaged where they are mounted about six inches off the ground. Many people store shovels, rakes, trash cans, and anything else they can fit in the front corners of their garage which usually gets caught on the sensor wiring causing damage. If you are having issues, check to make sure this wire is intact and does not have any areas where you see broken wires.
Chamberlain, LiftMaster, and Sears Craftsman garage door openers manufactured after 1997 will have an amber or yellow light on the sending safety sensor. The light on the sending sensor should always be on, even if the sensors are not aligned properly. If this light is not on, there is a damaged wire somewhere or the wires going into the back of the circuit board at the motor head have come loose.
Chamberlain, LiftMaster, and Craftsman openers have polarity wiring, so you need to make sure to keep the black and white wires lined up properly for the safety sensors to work properly. If the sending sensor is not working properly, the green light on the receiving sensor will remain off. It only comes on when the sending sensor is making the proper connection.
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The Garage Door Is Locked
This may be a garage users fault as the door might be functioning properly but it is locked. You can troubleshoot garage door by simply checking if there are any metal parts that are making it hard to open or close the garage. Use the knob to disengage the lock, and open or close your garage door at ease.
Garage Door Opener Adjustment
You may need to adjust your garage door openers sensitivity settings. First, run a test on the garage door to determine if the sensitivity settings are off. You can contact a professional to run the test or do it yourself if you feel comfortable. To adjust the sensitivity settings, pull the emergency release to disconnect the garage door from the opener. The garage door will close on its own.
Watch to see if it closes equally on each side. If one side of the garage door lags behind the other, contact a professional to complete a sensitivity adjustment. If the garage door seems balanced, sensitivity is not the issue.
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Transmitters Dont Work Correctly
The most common reason for transmitters to stop working is that you are out of range of the garage door. Therefore, you should find a distance from which you can still close the door.
When you are in range, but the door refuses to close, you should check the antenna. Move all possible obstructions that can hide the antenna and prevent receiving the signal. Additionally, look for possible damage and call the technician to replace it if necessary.
There is one more issue you should consider. If your neighbor has the same transmitter frequency, you will have a problem with closing your door. In such a case, you should change the frequency of your garage door. Finally, you may need to reprogram the remote.
How Long Do Opener Safety Sensors Last
Most garage door openers usually last between 10-20 years, but several components like safety beams can break faster. Safety beams should last as long as the opener if they arent hit or overly exposed to moisture.
Since photo eyes are installed on the vertical track 4-6 inches off the floor they come into contact with moisture. When water gets inside the casing the internal components go bad. This is especially a concern for cold and rainy climates where snow, ice and heavy rainfall occur.
Safety eyes also tend to get hit by childrens toys, tools and trash cans. Contact over time will damage the plastic casing, wiring and internal parts. Store items in the garage away from the photo eyes and encourage children to stay away from the beams when playing.
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Contact Us Today For Garage Door Repair In Muncie
As you have seen, sometimes its easy to fix a garage door that wont close all the way. Other times, you need help from a professional to conduct a safe, effective garage door repair. If you are unable to troubleshoot the problem on your own, call Overhead Door Company of Muncie. We offer free estimates and 24/7 service to get your garage door working again when you need it most.
Give us a call at 765-587-1444 or contact us online to request garage door repair in Muncie today.
Thank you! Overhead Door has been keeping my old garage door operating until I can afford to purchase a new one. Today Brandon
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My experience with Overhead Door was excellent. From the moment I called the company to the service call, the experience was impeccable. I
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Garage Door Wont Close All The Way What To Do
No matter how many vehicles you have, having a garage is an advantage for any homeowner. Your garage can be used to store tools, yard and garden equipment, or even to park your automobile. But what if your garage door doesnt close all the way?
Youll find this more than inconvenient as it means your things inside and your home are vulnerable.
The lack of operation could be faulty alignment, a damaged seal, or a crack in the floor. The first step is to check batteries and power, but you could find yourself stuck after this.
In our guide, you can learn more about why your garage door wont close in the right position. By the end, youll know why your garage door wont close because youll know all the things to check.
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Common Garage Door Problems
When your garage door wont stay closed and youve done everything to repair it then its time for a replacement. At Feldco, we have everything from standard to carriage garage doors. All the garage doors are customized to fit into the opening and they come in a variety of different colors to bring out the curb appeal. Speak to a product specialist and get a free quote online today.
The Door Travel Limit Setting Is Off
Garage door openers have a limit setting that tells them how far to close. If this drifts from the original setting over time, it could cause one of two problems: either the garage door will close all the way and then come back up, or it will leave a gap at the bottom. Whether the limit setting is too high or too low, you need to adjust it for the door to close properly. To do this, turn the knobs on the garage door opener using the owners manual as a guide.
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The Transmitter Batteries Are Dead
This may sound obvious, but your garage door transmitters need power to work. If the batteries in your transmitter are dead, the transmitter wont be able to send a signal to your garage door to open.
First, check to see if the transmitter on the wall inside your garage still opens your garage door when pressed. If it does, then the transmitter in your car likely just needs a simple battery replacement. If you have more than one car transmitter for your garage door, then your other transmitters will likely need new batteries soon as well, since they were probably installed around the same time.
Changing the battery on your garage door transmitter is pretty simple. On most, you can simply slide the door open on the back of the transmitter and remove the battery. Others may be screwed in to keep the battery more secure, so this type of transmitter will require a screwdriver to open.
After removing the old batteries, make sure the plus and minus signs line up with the plus and minus signs on the inside of the transmitter. Otherwise, the new battery wont work in the transmitter, and it could give you a false sign that something else may be wrong. Once the battery is in place, test the transmitter, and if it works, replace the transmitter door.
My Garage Door Wont Close All The Way
This can be caused by 3 different sections of your garage system:
- Limit adjustmentYour garage door has in-built limit settings that communicate how far your door will move down and up along the tracks as it opens and closes. If the limiter has been accidentally knocked or changed this can cause your garage door to not close all the way. Simply adjust the limit screw which can be located usually on the back of the motor, remembering that turning clockwise will adjust opening and counterclockwise is closing. Keep in mind that each full screw turn equates to approximately a 3-inch change.
- Realign safety sensorsLocated on either side of your garage door are safety sensors which instruct your garage door to close or open when the coast is clear. If you find that your garage door wont close, it is most likely that something could be blocking the sensors. Check that both lights on the sensors are on. If they are blinking or are off then something could be blocking the line of sight or they may need readjustment.Clear off any loose debris, leaves or dirt and if the problem persists have a look at your garage door opener manual or contact a professional.
- Replace rollersIn rare cases, if your rollers are damaged or rusted then ultimately you will need to replace them. Attempt to lubricate them first, if this does not fix the issue then its best to contact the professionals at Gryphon Garage Doors.
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Problems With The Sensors
For those who are unfamiliar with how garage door sensors work, there are two sensors, each positioned on a side. One of the sensors sends an infra-red beam to the other sensor. If any of these sensors should happen to get bumped or misaligned, the infra-red beam would be thrown off and the garage door wont go down. If this is your situation, the first thing youll want to do is make sure these sensors are properly lined up.
Start by inspecting the LEDs on each of the sensors to make sure theyre both displaying a solid red light. Its important to note though that some garage door opener systems may display a solid green light instead. It really depends on the model you have. If the LEDs are flashing, then youll know that they are not aligned correctly.
If this is the case, check the mounting brackets. When these brackets get bumped or banged, they can cause the sensors not to line up right. To help you align these two sensors, use a long piece of string or rope and stretch it from one sensor to the other. This will help you visually line them up. From there, simply adjust your brackets until both of the LED lights are displaying a solid, red dot.
The Motor Has Been Deactivated
Sometimes when a garage door wont open or close, it does not actually mean there is anything wrong with the door, your remote or even one of the opener-assembly parts. The issue could all boil down to the simple goof of a disconnected motor. To solve this, you can reconnect the motor.
The motor switch is there so you can open a garage door without the opener in the event of a power outage. Sometimes, however, the cord that connects to the motor switch will get caught and pulled, thus disabling the motor.
In some instances, it might be because of human error. Have you ever inadvertently pulled a cord or flipped a switch? That very action could be the source of your problem.
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The Track Is Out Of Alignment
In some situations, the constant opening and shutting of garage doors can increase the chance that the rollers will come out of alignment. In this situation, too, a professional whos done it before can quickly take care of the problem and avoid the possibility of the problem being magnified by someone unfamiliar with the process.
Garage Door Opener Isnt Connected
A disconnect switch is found on every garage door opener. This is for when your homes electricity goes out, and you must open the door rather than use the motor manually. The switch is usually coupled to a knob that must be turned or a rope that must be pulled.
Because sensors must see each other clearly, they may need to be aligned if they are blinking. Loosen one sensor, adjust it until the small light remains steady, and then re-tighten it.
Check the tracks and rollers to verify if your sensors are working. If the garage door still doesnt close past a certain point, look at the tracks to see any obstructions in the way.
The same thing can happen if a track is deformed or if a roller is destroyed. Ensure sure there are no signs of damage on both tracks. You can usually bend it back into position using clamps or a few well-placed hammer hits if you come across a damaged portion.
Check sure the overhead track from the garage door opener is also checked. Check the rollers and lubricate them with grease. A garage door can be fooled into thinking it is hitting something if several stuck rollers are present.
The trolley is the device that links the garage door to the opener. This portion is commonly identified by a rope dangling from it. The rope engages and disengages the door from the garage door openers chain.
Open the rear flap or remove the light cover on your garage door opener while up a ladder. Two plastic adjustment screws labeled for UP and DOWN should be seen.
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Garage Door Has Been Locked Manually
Some garage doors, especially older ones, are supplied with manual locks. If the motor of your opener runs for a few seconds before shutting off and the door won’t open, it could be that you have accidentally engaged the manual lock. The lock is designed to add extra security to the door, but sometimes by accident, the lock can easily be activated. It’s a simple fix just turn the handle until it clicks.
Is Your Garage Door Not Closing Here Are 5 Reasons Why
- 15 September 2020
Garages are greatthey keep our cars safe and secure, whatever the weather, and they can add plenty of value to our homes. Your garage can be your storage space, a place for your car, or even a studio if you want to get creative!
Add an electric garage door opener, and you can throw convenience into the extensive list of things a garage offers. With the click of a button, you can enhance your security and your privacy, but what do you do when your garage door doesnt budge?
If your garage door is stuck open, the integrity or security of your home is automatically compromised. But, not to worry, there are a variety of factors that prevent a garage door from closing, and most of them are easily identified and fixed. When a garage door doesnt shut, clearly thats a sign that some garage door repair is in the offing. The following 5 reasons will tell you why your garage door isnt closing and how to identify them!
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